When God Feels Distant
Are you feeling right now that God is way too silent or, at least, the connection is static at its best? Don’t worry. Help is near. God is near. Even when God feels distant.
As Frederich Buechner has said “There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it, always hiddenly, always leaving you room to recognize Him or not recognize Him, but all the more fascinatingly because of that, all the more compellingly and hauntingly.”
And that frees you to live fully. Even when God feels distant.
Charles Swindoll points out “God may be invisible, but He’s in touch. You may not be able to see Him, but He is in control. And that includes you–your circumstances. That includes what you’ve just lost. That includes what you’ve just gained. That includes all of life–past, present, future.”
With the words of Steve Harper “Anything that is of concern to you is fair grounds for prayer. The power and beauty of prayer will come shining through in the specificity of your praying. God will cease to be “out there” or “up there” and will come to reside in your everyday life. God will not be Creator only but will become Companion.”
Life is life. We are called to live our lives with Jesus. There is nothing better than that. We are called to breath in God’s grace and breath out all the negativity of the world. We are called to live out our faith in our messy lives. That’s why there are some static connections once in awhile. But God is near. And he does care.
Even when God feels distant.
Like Henri J.M. Nouwen has said “The mystery of life is that the Lord of life cannot be known except in and through the act of living. Without the concrete and specific involvements of daily life we cannot come to know the loving presence of Him who holds us in the palm of His hand. . . Therefore, we are called each day to present to our Lord the whole of our lives.”
When we do present the whole of our lives to our Lord, we are blessed. God is delighted to answer our prayers. God’s blessings are not earthly things but divine gifts that nourishes our souls. God knows what you need even when you don’t know it yourself.
Rest in God, my friend. Rest in God. Don’t over-analyze your connection. Don’t worry about why God seems silent or when God feels distant. Rest in God instead. Place your hope in God, not in you or in your feelings or what is happening around you. Rest in God, there is nothing more amazing, wonderful and trust-worthy in the whole wide world.
Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits.
(Psalm 136:1-3, MSG)
Rest in God because he is good.
Rest in God because he loves you.
Rest in God because his love endures forever!
Gracious God,
Thank you for your steadfast love!
Thank you for always being there for us.
Be praised forever and ever!
Give us your grace to always place our hope in you.
Help us to toss away anything than hinders our trust in you.
Bless us as you seem fit and needed.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: How do you deal with static connection/the silence of God? What do you do when God feels distant?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, on your faith journey. Don’t be discouraged! Be bold & place your trust in God!
Photo courtesy of Robin Ogilvie, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Some parts of this post have been previously published. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Small Wonders, and #InspireMeMonday.
